Bill, when you get a little older you'll come to realize that it's the memory of a good hunt that counts. Not the stories, not the trophy, but the ability to put yourself back in the moment in your mind. The stories and trophies are only tools to help take you back.
And don't feel to bad about not seeing bear. I spent years hunting bear and guiding bear hunters in northern Maine and know that the success rate for legally taking black bears without bait, snares or hounds is very very low, even in areas with plenty of bear population.
I had a successful Elk hunt in Colorado this year, but didn't take the .450. I flew out, limiting me to one rifle, and the old faithful .270 WBY won the draw as it's the rifle that my airline case is fitted to. At the end of the day it could have been either one as the shot was under 200 yards.
BD